US20080250577A1 - Shimless frame support method and apparatus for dock levelers - Google Patents
Shimless frame support method and apparatus for dock levelers Download PDFInfo
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- US20080250577A1 US20080250577A1 US11/783,964 US78396407A US2008250577A1 US 20080250577 A1 US20080250577 A1 US 20080250577A1 US 78396407 A US78396407 A US 78396407A US 2008250577 A1 US2008250577 A1 US 2008250577A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- deck
- frame
- dock leveler
- pit
- supporting portion
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G69/00—Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with loading or unloading
- B65G69/28—Loading ramps; Loading docks
- B65G69/287—Constructional features of deck or surround
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates generally to leveling systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system to level a dock leveler.
- Dock levelers are used in warehouses to provide a bridge between the floor of the warehouse and a motor vehicle such as a semitrailer. In a typical application the vehicle is backed up to a warehouse for loading or unloading. At least two problems exist in providing a bridge between the bed of the truck and the loading dock.
- One problem is that the trailer bed may be of a different height than the floor of the loading dock. The second problem is that there is a gap between the end of the trailer bed and the floor of the loading dock. To solve both of these problems, dock levelers are used.
- The dock leveler can be raised or lowered to the level of the vehicle bed. A portion of the dock leveler, typically the lip, is inserted in the vehicle and rests the bed of the vehicle to provide a bridge between the bed of the vehicle and the loading dock.
- One type of dock leveler, sometimes referred to as a pit leveler, is located in a pit that is sunken below the surface of the floor of the loading dock. When the dock leveler is mounted into a pit, a deck portion of the dock leveler is typically stored at a location that is level with the surrounding loading dock floor. Because of the desirability of having the dock leveler deck stored level with the loading dock floor, installation of the dock leveler into a pit should account for variances often associated with manufacturing tolerances in the dock leveler and/or in the depth of the pit.
- Often, when installing dock levelers into pits, a dock leveler frame is placed on the floor of the pit and then the dock leveler frame is shimmed at various places in order to ensure that the deck of the dock leveler is level with the surrounding dock floor when the deck is in a stored position.
- Shimming the frame when installing a dock leveler is one way to address the problem of ensuring that the dock leveler deck is level with the surrounding dock floor in view of variances of pit floor depth associated with different pits and manufacturing tolerances of the dock leveler itself. However, installing shims beneath the frame of a dock leveler to level the leveler can time and labor intensive. In addition, it is often imprecise.
- For example, when an installer installs a dock leveler, the installer must bring many shims of various thickness to in order to be prepared to attempt to level a dock lever under a wide range of variances in pit depth and dock leveler height.
- An additional problem in using shims to level a dock leveler is that shims are of a discrete thickness. As such, there is a limitation as to how level a dock leveler deck can be with the surrounding dock floor. In some situations, a dock leveler deck can be slightly below the level of the surrounding dock floor, however, adding even the thinnest shim, can put the dock leveler deck slightly above the level of the surrounding dock floor. Thus, shims can be limited in how level they can make a dock leveler deck with the surrounding dock floor.
- Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus to install a dock leveler into a pit and to provide for a way to level the deck of the dock leveler when the deck is in a stored position to be level with the surrounding warehouse floor in a simple, efficient and more precise manner.
- The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus and method is provided that in some embodiments provide a way to level the deck of a dock leveler installed in a pit in a simple, efficient and more precise manner.
- In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a dock leveler frame is provided. The dock leveler frame includes a pit supported portion; a deck supporting portion configured to provide support to a deck portion of the dock leveler; and a fastener configured to contact corresponding structure on the pit supported portion and deck supporting portion, the corresponding structure configured to allow the pit supported portion and deck supporting portion to be fastened to each other via the fastener at multiple positions with respect to each other.
- In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a dock leveler frame is provided. The dock leveler frame includes: a pit supported portion; a deck supporting portion configured to provide support to a deck portion of the dock leveler; and means for connecting the pit supported portion and deck supporting portion, the means for connecting configured to allow the pit supported portion and deck supporting portion to be connected to each other at multiple positions with respect to each other.
- In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of configuring a dock leveler frame to install a dock leveler in a pit and have a level deck without the use of shims is provided. The method includes: providing a pit supported portion of a dock lever frame; placing a deck supporting portion of the frame in a desired position with respect to the pit supported portion; and fastening the pit supported portion to the deck supporting portion with a fastener inserted in to a hole and a slot.
- There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
- In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
- As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dock leveler installed at a loading dock in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion indicated by detail “A” inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dock leveler frame in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the dock leveler frame in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the dock leveler frame illustrating a range of motion that a portion of the frame can achieve with respect to a longitudinal frame member. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a dock leveler frame in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 7 is a side view of a deck supporting portion of a dock leveler frame in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the deck supporting portion shown inFIG. 7 . -
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a deck supporting portion of a dock leveler frame in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a deck supporting portion in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of a dock leveler frame including the deck supporting portion ofFIG. 10 . -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of a dock leveler frame including the deck supporting portion ofFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of a dock leveler frame including the deck supporting portion ofFIGS. 7-8 . -
FIG. 14 is an illustration of a deck supporting portion and a pit supported portion of a dock leveler frame. The deck supporting portion is illustrated at extreme high and extreme low positions with respect to the base portion in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 15 is a side view of the portion of the dock leveler frame illustrated inFIG. 14 and illustrates an extreme high and extreme low position of the deck supporting portion with respect to the base portion of the dock leveler frame. -
FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the portion of the dock leveler frame illustrated inFIGS. 14 , 15 and 17. -
FIG. 17 is an assembled perspective view of the portion of the dock leveler frame illustrated inFIGS. 14-16 . -
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a portion of a dock leveler frame in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 19 is a perspective rear view of the dock leveler frame shown inFIG. 18 . -
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the portion of the dock leveler frame shown inFIG. 18 with the deck supporting portion at an extreme low with respect to the pit supported portion of the frame. -
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the portion of the dock leveler frame shown inFIG. 19 with the deck supporting portion at an extreme low with respect to the connection portion of the frame. -
FIG. 22 is a cross section side view of a deck supporting portion of a dock leveler frame attached to a pit supported portion of a dock leveler frame where the deck supporting portion is at a lowered position with respect to the pit supported portion. -
FIG. 23 is a cross section side view of a deck supporting portion of a dock leveler frame attached to a pit supported portion of a dock leveler frame where the deck supporting portion is at a raised position with respect to the pit supported portion. - The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. In
FIG. 1 aloading dock 1 having a dock floor 2 is shown. Adock leveler 3 is installed in apit 4 in the floor 2 of theloading dock 1. Thedock lever 3 includes adeck 5, alip 6 and aframe 10. Thedeck 5 andlip 6 are drawn in a see through manner to show more detail.FIG. 2 is an enlarged drawing of a portion ofFIG. 1 .FIG. 2 shows the lip 6 (also drawn in a see-through manner) having alower end 7 resting in alip keeper 24.FIG. 2 also shows portions of theframe 10 rest on thepit floor 9. In some embodiments of the invention, and as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 , thelip 6, when supported by thelip keeper 24, supports thefree end 8 of thedeck 5. - Turning now to
FIG. 3 , adock leveler 3frame 10 is shown with thedeck 5 andlip 6 removed. Thedock leveler frame 10 has afront portion 12 of theframe 10. Thefront portion 12 of theframe 10 is the portion of theframe 10 located at the end of thedock leveler 3 where a truck or other vehicle will approach to be on or offloaded. Arear portion 14 of theframe 10 is the portion of theframe 10 that thedeck 5 is pivotally attached. In therear portion 14 of theframe 10, ashimless leveling system 16 is illustrated for allowing adjustment and leveling of therear portion 14 of theframe 10 as shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/347,206, hereby included by reference in its entirety. - The leveling
system 16 also includes adjustment heads 18, which provide a way for a tool to attach to theadjustment system 16 and twist the adjustment heads 18 to level therear portion 14 of thedock leveler frame 10 as described in the aforementioned patent application. - The
front portion 12 of thedock leveler frame 10 is attached to therear portion 14 of thedock leveler frame 10 bylongitudinal frame members 20. Thelongitudinal frame members 20 terminate at their front ends with a dockleveler leveling system 23. - The dock
leveler leveling system 23 includes a pit supportedportion 21 and adeck supporting portion 22. The pit supportedportion 21 is supported by thepit floor 9. In some embodiments, the pit supportedportion 21 includes the end oflongitudinal frame members 20 and a hole 31 (seeFIG. 4 for example) in thelongitudinal frame member 20. In other embodiments of the invention, the pit supportedportion 21 includes other parts of theframe 10. Thedeck supporting portion 22 supplies structural support to thefree end 8 of the deck 5 (seeFIG. 1 ). In accordance with the invention, the pit supportedportion 21 and thedeck supporting portion 22 of theframe 10 can move with respect to each other during the installation of thedock leveler 3 before being fixed to each other. - In some embodiments of the invention, the
deck supporting portion 22 includes alip keeper 24. Thelip keeper 24 will support thedeck 5 of thedock leveler 3 when thelip 6 is in a retracted position and placed in thelip keeper 24. In some embodiments of the invention, the pit supportedportion 21 includes aperpendicular member 26. Theperpendicular member 26 is attached to theU-shaped shoe 28 and is generally perpendicular to thelongitudinal frame members 20. In other embodiments of the invention as shown inFIGS. 14-17 , thedeck supporting portion 22 supports the deck by supporting support legs mounted to the deck as described in more detail below. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of aleveling system 23, similar to the leveling system shown inFIG. 3 .FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the levelingsystem 23. The following description will be relevant toFIGS. 3-6 . Thedeck leveling system 23 also includes aU-shaped shoe 28. TheU-shaped shoe 28 is attached to theperpendicular member 26. TheU-shaped shoe 28 is configured to receivelongitudinal frame member 20 in the hollow portion of theU-shaped shoe 28. - In order to provide adjustment between the relative position of the pit supported
portion 21 and thedeck supporting portion 22, aslot 30 is provided in theU-shaped shoe 28. Ahole 31 is provided in the longitudinal frame member 20 (sometimes referred to as a longitudinal beam 20). TheU-shaped shoe 28 and thelongitudinal beam 20 are aligned so that a fastener such as abolt 34 is placed in theslot 30 in theU-shaped shoe 28 andhole 31 of thelongitudinal beam 20 as shown inFIGS. 3-6 . - The
hole 31 in thebeam 20 is dimensioned to not provide much room for thebolt 34 to move radially within it. However, theslot 30 does provide allowance for relative movement between thebolt 34 andslot 30. - The
fastener system 32 includes abolt 34, a nut 36 (seeFIG. 6 ) and one or more washers 37. Once the pit supportedportion 21 and thedeck supporting position 22 are in a desired location relative to one another, thefastener system 32 is tightened to avoid movement between the pit supportedportion 21 and thedeck supporting position 22. Once thefastener system 32 has tightened, the twoframe portions portion 21 to the supportingportion 22 is done to fix the two portions to each other. - In the embodiments shown in
FIGS. 1-6 , thelongitudinal frame member 20 can optionally be welded to theU-shaped shoe 28. The welding is done in embodiments where it is anticipated that during the operation of the dock leveler more stress will be placed on the connection between the pit supportedportion 21 and thedeck supporting portion 22 then can be resisted by thefastener system 32. Thus, in some embodiments, thefastener system 32 provides a method for fastening the pit supportedportion 21 to thedeck supporting portion 22 long enough (such as during installation of the dock leveler) for a more sure method of attaching the pit supportedportion 21 to thedeck supporting portion 22 together. - In some embodiments of the invention, as shown in
FIG. 4 , thelip keeper 24 is positioned at a different place than the substantially centered position as identified inFIG. 3 . For example,FIG. 4 illustrates alip keeper 24 attached to alip keeper plate 38 at a position below thelongitudinal frame members 20. In some embodiments of the invention, thelip keeper 24 and thelip keeper plate 28 will be located outside of the pit and thus able to extend to positions below thepit floor 9. It is anticipated that one skilled in the art, after reviewing this disclosure, will be able to select alip keeper plate 28 and alip keeper 24 dimensioned to provide thelip keeper 24 at a desired location. -
FIG. 5 illustrates the extreme positions that thedeck supporting portion 22 can be with respect to the pit supportedportion 21. As shown in dashed lines, theU-shaped shoe 28 and theperpendicular member 26 are in extreme low positions where thefastener 32 is located at a top portion of theslot 30. As shown in solid lines, theU-shaped system shoe 28 and theperpendicular member 26 are shown in extreme upper position where thefastener system 32 is shown in a bottom portion of theslot 30. The drawing ofFIG. 5 shows the two extreme relative positions of theU-shaped shoe 28 and thelongitudinal frame member 20. In some embodiments of the invention, and as shown inFIG. 5 , once the dock leveler is installed, theU-shaped shoe 28 rests on thepit floor 9. - In some embodiments of the invention, the
dock leveler 3 is installed in the following way. Thedock leveler 3 is lifted by a crane, hoist, or other suitable apparatus to a position in thepit 4 where thedeck 5 is level with the surrounding dock floor 2 and thelip 6 is supported by thelip keepers 24. In some embodiments of the invention, thedock leveler 3 may be equipped with contact points to provide attachment points to facilitate thedock leveler 3 being suspended by a crane or hoist. - Initially the
U-shaped shoe 28 andperpendicular member 26 are in a raised position (as shown in solid lines inFIG. 5 ). When thedeck 5 is level with the surrounding dock floor 2, thefastening system 32 is loosened and allows theU-shaped shoe 28 andperpendicular member 26 to drop or be moved to a lowered position and contact thepit floor 9. Once theU-shaped shoe 28 andperpendicular member 26 are in contact with thepit floor 9, thefastening system 32 is tightened. Thedock leveler 3 is released from the crane or hoist and thedock leveler 3 remains in position, with some of its weight being supported by theU-shaped shoe 28 and theperpendicular member 26. In many embodiments, theU-shaped shoe 28 is welded to thelongitudinal member 20 once a desired relative position between theU-shaped shoe 28 and thelongitudinal member 20 has been identified as mentioned above. As shown inFIG. 2 , in some embodiments of the invention, thelongitudinal frame member 20 does not necessarily contact thepit floor 9 when thedock leveler 3 is installed into thepit 4. - Other methods of installing the
dock leveler 3 can also be employed. For example, thedock leveler 3 can be placed into thepit 4. Thefastener system 32 may be loosened, and thedeck 5 may be raised using any suitable means (for example, using manual means such as levers or using mechanical means) to a position level with the surrounding dock floor 2. Thedeck supporting portion 22 is moved with respect to the pit supportedportion 21 to where thedeck supporting portion 22 supports thedeck 5 in a position level with the surrounding dock floor 2. Thefastening system 32 is then tightened to keep the pit supportedportion 21 and thedeck supporting portion 22 from moving relative to each other. The pit supportedportion 21 anddeck supporting portion 22 may then be welded or otherwise fixed to each other. - In short, there are at least two primary ways of installing a dock leveler in accordance with the invention. Either starting with a
deck 5 level with the surrounding dock floor 2 and adjusting the pit supportedportion 21 to rest on the dock floor, or start with the pit supportedportion 21 resting on thepit floor 9 and adjusting thedeck 5 anddeck supporting portion 22 to move cause thedeck 5 to be level with the surrounding dock floor 2. -
FIGS. 7-13 show alternative embodiments of the invention having alip keeper 24 integrated with alip keeper frame 42. Thelip keeper frame 24 includesslots 30. - In some embodiments of the invention, the
lip keeper frame 42 further includes anotch 44 that fits into a correspondingnotch 46 in aperpendicular member 26 as shown inFIGS. 11-13 . InFIGS. 7-13 , thelip keeper 24 may be of various geometry, which in some embodiments as shown inFIG. 9 , may include ahook 40. Thehook 40 helps to hold aplate 41 welded to thehook 40 as shown inFIG. 12 . - One feature of the embodiments shown in
FIG. 7-13 is that by having twoslots 30 with twofastening systems 32, thelip keeper frame 42 can be skewed right and left for providing a desirable orientation by moving thefastening systems 32 in slightly different positions in theslots 30 as explained in more reference toFIGS. 11-13 . -
FIGS. 11-13 illustrate another embodiment of the invention where thedeck supporting portion 22 includes alip keeper frame 42 similar to those shown inFIGS. 7-10 . Thelip keeper frame 42 has aslot 44, which is inserted to a corresponding lipkeeper receiving slot 46 located on theperpendicular member 26. The pit supportedportion 21 includes alongitudinal frame member 20. Thelip keeper frame 42 connects to thelongitudinal frame member 20 with twofastener systems 32. Thefastener systems 32 include abolt 34, anut 36 and one or more washers 37. Thebolts 34 are inserted through theslots 30 in thelip keeper frame 42 and holes 31 (SeeFIGS. 4 and 5 ) located in thelongitudinal frame members 20. - The pit supported
portion 21 and thelip keeper frame 42 are adjusted relative to each other along theslots 30 until they achieve a desired position with respect to each other. Then thebolts 34 and the nuts 36 are tightened in order to hold thelip keeper frame 42 snug to thelongitudinal frame member 20 until thelip keeper frame 42 can be welded or otherwise fixed to thelongitudinal frame member 20. - In some cases, the
pit floor 9 may be slanted from back to front. Thedeck 5 of the dock leveler 3 (seeFIG. 1 ) can be kept level with respect to the dock floor 2 by compensating for the slope of thepit floor 9. The slope of thepit floor 9 can be compensated for by adjusting the attitude of thelip keeper frame 42. The pit supportedportion 21 can be adjusted by being twisted with respect to thelip keeper frame 42 to cause the pit supportedportion 21 to point slightly up or down before tightening thefastener system 32. - In instances where the
dock floor 9 is sloped from right to left or vise versa, this slope may be compensated for by having the one pit supportedportion 21 to be adjusted higher or lower that the opposite pit supportedportion 21 mounted to thesame frame 10. In this manner thedeck 5 may be made level with the surrounding dock floor 2. - As shown in
FIGS. 11-13 , thelip keeper frame 42 is fastened to thelongitudinal members 20. As described with respect to other embodiments, thebolts 34 are inserted through theslots 30 in thelip keeper frame 42 throughholes 31 in thelongitudinal frame members 20 allowing thelip keeper frame 42 to be attached to thelongitudinal frame member 20. -
FIGS. 14-17 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In the embodiments shownFIGS. 14-17 , the pit supportedportion 21 and thedeck supporting portion 22 are moved relative to each other until the pit supportedportion 21 contacts thepit floor 9 and thedeck 5 is level with the surrounding dock floor 2 (seeFIG. 1 ). Once in place, the pit supportedportion 21 supports thedeck supporting portion 22. -
FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate an extreme high and low position that thedeck supporting portion 22 can achieve with respect to the pit supportedportion 21. InFIGS. 14 and 15 , relative positions of thedeck supporting portion 22 with respect to the pit supportedportion 21 are shown. Thedeck supporting portion 22 is shown in the extreme low position with solid lines and in an extreme high position with broken lines. - In some embodiments of the invention using the apparatus as shown in
FIGS. 14-17 , the dock leveler 3 (seeFIG. 1 ) is installed into apit 4 as follows. Thedock leveler 3 is suspended from a hoist, crane or other suitable apparatus and positioned so thedeck 5 is level with the surrounding dock floor 2. Thebolts 34 are loosened and the pit supportedportion 21 is lowered to thepit floor 9. Thefastening system 32 is then tightened and thedeck supporting portion 22 and the pit supportedportion 21 are wielded together. - Other methods of installing the
dock leveler 3 can also be employed. For example, thedock leveler 3 can be placed into thepit 4. Thefastener system 32 may be loosened, and thedeck 5 may be raised using any suitable means (for example, using manual means such as levers or using mechanical means) to a position level with the surrounding dock floor 2. Thedeck supporting portion 22 is moved with respect to the pit supportedportion 21 to where thedeck supporting portion 22 supports thedeck 5 in a position level with the surrounding dock floor 2. Thefastening system 32 is then tightened to keep the pit supportedportion 21 and thedeck supporting portion 22 from moving relative to each other. The pit supportedportion 21 anddeck supporting portion 22 may then be welded or otherwise fixed to each other. -
FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the pit supportedportion 21, thedeck supporting portion 22 and thefastener system 32. Similar to the embodiments already described, thefastener system 32 includes abolt 34 withwashers 37. Thebolt 34 is inserted into theslots 30 and also into the fastener holes 50 located in thedeck supporting portion 22. In some embodiments of the invention, the fastener holes 50 are threaded to allow thebolts 34 to attach to thedeck supporting portion 22. In other embodiments of the invention, thebolts 34 pass through theholes 50 and nuts attach to thebolts 34. - The pit supported
portion 21 can be moved as dictated by the geometry of theslots 30 until the pit supportedportion 21 achieves a desired position with respect to thedeck supporting portion 22. In most embodiments a desired position is when the pit supportedportion 21 is resting on thepit floor 9 and thedeck 5 is level with the surrounding dock floor 2. Then thefastener system 32 is tightened and the pit supportedportion 21 and the deck supporting portion are fixed to each other. - In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 14-17 , the pit supportedportion 21 sits on thepit floor 9 and may be attached tolongitudinal frame members 20 in any suitable manner. InFIG. 17 anangle 20 is thelongitudinal frame member 20 is shown welded to asupport plate 47 of the deck pit supportedportion 21. - In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 14-17 thedeck supporting portion 22 includes asupport saddle 48. Thesupport saddle 48 is configured to support legs attached to the bottom of a dock leveler deck. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,686, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes a support leg system using a supportleg support system 48 similar to that shown inFIGS. 14-15 . - The support leg may be retracted via a
camming surface 52, which in some embodiments of the invention, is part of thedeck supporting portion 22. Asupport leg ramp 54 may also be included as part ofdeck supporting portion 22 which aids in allowing a support leg to be retracted when thedock leveler deck 5 is in a below dock position as described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,686. -
FIG. 17 illustrates the pit supportedportion 21 and thedeck supporting portion 22 in an exemplary final position where thefastener system 32 is tightened and the pit supportedportion 21 has been welded to thedeck supporting portion 22. - In some embodiments of the invention, a dock leveler will have two (or in some embodiments more) sets of
deck supporting portions 22 of theframe 10 and pit supportedportions 21 of theframe 10 as illustrated inFIG. 3 . Onedeck supporting portion 22 and one pit supportedportion 21 is located on each side of theframe 10. In some embodiments of the invention, eachlongitudinal frame member 20 will be terminated with a corresponding pit supportedportion 21 anddeck supporting portion 22 with theframe 10. - In embodiments in accordance with the invention, having a support leg retracting system, each of the
deck supporting portions 22 may include thecamming surface 52 andsupport leg ramp 54 as shown inFIGS. 14-17 . Although an example of the leveling system is shown using a dock leveler, it will be appreciated that other items can be leveled using the described system. -
FIGS. 18-23 illustrate yet another embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 18 , adock leveler frame 200 is located in apit 201 having a floor, 202. Theframe 200 includeslongitudinal beams 204 which connect to a rear portion of thedock leveler frame 200 and a pivoting deck assembly (not shown inFIG. 18 ). - The
longitudinal beams 204 connect to across angle 206. Thecross angle 206 can be considered to be a pit supported portion or at least part of a pit supported portion of thedock leveler frame 200. In some embodiments of the invention, thecross angle 206 is secured to thepit floor 202. - As shown in
FIG. 22 , an embeddedangle 232 may be embedded into the concrete 234 at one end of thepit floor 202. The embeddedangle 232, may be sunk into the concrete 234 sufficiently so that theangle 232 and thepit floor 202 are substantially a contiguous surface as shown inFIG. 22 . In some embodiments of the invention, thecross angle 206 is fixed to the embeddedangle 232. The fixing of thecross angle 206 to the embeddedangle 232 can be done by welding, bolting or any other suitable way. - A
doubler 208 is adjustably attached to thecross angle 206 with afastener system 210. Thedoubler 208 may be made of folded steel as shown inFIGS. 18-22 , be comprised of several parts, or be made in any suitable matter. Thedoubler 208 supports, and is connected to,lip keepers 212. Thelip keepers 212 support the lip which in turn supports the free end of the dock leveler deck when the lip is in a pendant position and engaged with thelip keepers 212. Thedoubler 208 can be considered the deck supporting, or at least part of the deck supporting portion, of thedock leveler frame 200. -
FIG. 19 shows the back side of the view shown inFIG. 18 . As shown inFIG. 19 , stop blocks 214 are mounted to thecross angle 206. The stop blocks 214 are used to support the deck of the dock leveler under certain conditions. The stop blocks 214 are supported bystop block legs 215. Thestop block legs 215 are fastened to thedoubler 208. Thestop block legs 215 may be fastened to thedoubler 208 by welding, bolts, or any suitable means of fastening. - Support blocks 216 are mounted to the
cross angle 206. The support blocks 216 provide support to thestop block legs 215 by providing a surface for the stop block legs to 215 to be secured to. For example, thestop block legs 215 may be wielded, bolted or otherwise secured (by any suitable means) to the support blocks 216. - When a dock leveler in accordance with the invention and as shown in
FIGS. 18-23 is installed, thecross angle 206 is installed and may be secured to the embedded angle 232 (seeFIG. 22 ). Thedoubler 208 is fit over thecross angle 206 as shown inFIGS. 18-23 . Thecross angle 206 anddoubler 208 are moved with respect to each other until thecross angle 206 contacts thepit floor 202 or embeddedangle 232 and thelip keepers 212 will support the lip when stored in thelip keepers 212 at a height to cause the deck to be level with the surrounding dock floor. - In many embodiments of the invention, a desired position is one where: when the deck is in a stored position (a position where the front of the deck is supported, at least in part, by the deck supporting portion of the dock leveler frame 200), the deck is level with the surrounding dock floor. If need be, the
cross angle 206 can be canted to make either the right or left side higher than the other side in order to make thecross angle 206 lay flat on thedock floor 202 or embedded angle 323. - Once the
cross angle 206 is in a desired position, thedoubler 208 is secured to thecross angle 206 by thefastening system 210.FIGS. 18 and 19 show thedoubler 208 in a raised position with respect to thecross angle 206.FIGS. 20 and 21 show thedoubler 208 in an extreme low position with respect to thecross angle 206. Once thedoubler 208 is fastened to thecross angle 206 by thefastening system 210, thedoubler 208 may be welded to thecross angle 206. -
FIGS. 22 and 23 are cross sections of dock leveler frames 200 in accordance with the invention. The view shown inFIG. 22 shows thedoubler 208 in a lowered position with respect to thecross angle 206 similar to as shown inFIGS. 16 and 17 . InFIG. 23 , thedoubler 208 is shown in a raised position with respect to thecross angle 206 similar to as shown inFIGS. 18 and 19 . - Similar to the other embodiments described above, the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 18-23 uses a hole and slot system to permit one portion of the frame to be adjusted with respect to another portion of the frame. InFIGS. 22 and 23 theholes doubler 208 and theslot 226 in thecross angle 206 are seen. As shown inFIG. 22 afastener system 210 which in some embodiments may include abolt 218,washers 220, and anut 222 is used to fasten thedoubler 208 to thecross angle 206. Thebolt 218 is located in theholes slot 226. Thewasher 220 andnut 222 are located on thebolt 218 adjacent tohole 225. - The
doubler 208 is fit over thecross angle 206 so that theholes slot 226 in thecross angle 206. Thebolt 218 is fit through thehole 224 in thedoubler 208 and through theslot 226 in thecross angle 206 and though theother hole 225 in thedoubler 208. Thecross angle 206 anddoubler 208 can then be moved up and down with respect to each other as limited by thebolt 218 contacting the sides of the slot andtop end 228 andbottom end 230 of thecross angle 206. - Because the stop blocks 214 and the
lip keepers 212 are connected to thedoubler 208, the stop blocks 214 and thelip keepers 212 move as a unit with thedoubler 208 as it moves along thecross angle 206 as permitted by the geometry of theslot 226. Once thecross angle 206 has achieved a desired position with respect to thedoubler 208, thefastener system 210 is tightened to secure thedoubler 208 to thecross angle 206. - In some embodiments of the invention, the
doubler 208 is welded to thecross angle 206. Thefastener system 210 is used to hold thedoubler 208 in place during the welding process. In some embodiments of the invention, the stop block legs 215 (seeFIG. 19 for example) are welded to the support blocks 216. - It is appreciated that the gap 236 (See
FIG. 19 ) between thedoubler 208 and thecross angle 206, and the size of thegap 238 between thestop block legs 215 and thecross angle 206 varies depending where thecross angle 206 is moved along thedoubler 208. For example, thegaps FIGS. 20 and 21 when thedoubler 208 is fully lowered with respect to thecross angle 206. - It will be appreciated that some embodiments of the invention can reverse parts. For example, the slot can occur in either the pit supported portion of the frame or the deck supporting portion and the hole can occur in either the pit supported portion or the deck supporting portion of the frame in accordance with the invention as evident by comparing the embodiments shown in
FIGS. 1-13 , 14-17 and 18-23. - The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Claims (28)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US11/783,964 US7926140B2 (en) | 2007-04-13 | 2007-04-13 | Shimless frame support method and apparatus for dock levelers |
US12/040,496 US7996943B2 (en) | 2007-04-13 | 2008-02-29 | Shimless frame support method and apparatus for dock levelers |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US11/783,964 US7926140B2 (en) | 2007-04-13 | 2007-04-13 | Shimless frame support method and apparatus for dock levelers |
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US12/040,496 Continuation-In-Part US7996943B2 (en) | 2007-04-13 | 2008-02-29 | Shimless frame support method and apparatus for dock levelers |
Publications (2)
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US20080250577A1 true US20080250577A1 (en) | 2008-10-16 |
US7926140B2 US7926140B2 (en) | 2011-04-19 |
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US11/783,964 Active 2028-10-22 US7926140B2 (en) | 2007-04-13 | 2007-04-13 | Shimless frame support method and apparatus for dock levelers |
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Cited By (1)
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US20080250578A1 (en) * | 2007-04-13 | 2008-10-16 | 4Front Engineered Solutions Inc. | Shimless frame support method and apparatus for dock levelers |
Families Citing this family (6)
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US8769823B1 (en) | 2009-10-07 | 2014-07-08 | Lift-U, A Division Of Hogan Mfg., Inc. | Ramp assembly installation method |
US8434181B1 (en) | 2009-10-07 | 2013-05-07 | Lift-U, Division Of Hogan Mfg., Inc. | Ramp assembly installation method |
US8590159B1 (en) | 2009-10-07 | 2013-11-26 | Lift-U, Division Of Hogan Mfg., Inc. | Ramp assembly installation method |
US8402660B1 (en) | 2009-10-07 | 2013-03-26 | Lift-U, Division Of Hogan Mfg., Inc. | Ramp assembly installation method |
US8938837B1 (en) | 2009-10-07 | 2015-01-27 | Lift-U, Division Of Hogan Mfg., Inc. | Ramp assembly installation method |
US20170073176A1 (en) | 2015-09-11 | 2017-03-16 | Blue Giant Equipment Corporation | T-bolt for dock lip |
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